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Life in the making: 335 total pages.

or ill, it is probable that he will be disagreeable about it. With some stronger personalities the independent spirit will manifest itself in acts like Rigby's. This phase of the child's development presents a serious problem. Parents and teachers are apt to smile when it is simply a question of the child insisting on not accepting help. They are, how-ever, extremely puzzled and vexed when the self-assertiveness assumes a more violent and unpleas­ant form. To deal helpfully with either case a sympathetic understanding of what lies behind the act is neces­sary. This is the time for the development of in­dividuality. Merely to forcefully repress all efforts of self-assertiveness probably would cause the child to become weak-willed. On the other hand, there is grave danger of allowing the child, whose sense of individuality becomes very prominent, to develop into a self-willed tyrant. If the child is shy and retiring, he needs to be encouraged in his desire to help himself. If he is extremely self-assertive, while no attempt should be made to "break his will," it

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